Microsoft's Surface tablet with Windows RT matches iPad on pricing

Microsoft on Tuesday set the price of its Windows RT Surface tablet with 32GB of storage at US$499, setting up the stage for a battle with Apple's iPad, which has a similar starting price.

The Surface tablet with RT is 680 grams, 9.3 millimeters thick and has a 10.6-inch screen. It will come with 32GB and 64GB storage, and a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, which is based on an ARM processor.

Consumers will be able to pre-order the tablet at 9:00 a.m. U.S. Pacific Time, Microsoft said in a statement. With the 32GB model, Microsoft is also offering an optional Touch Cover accessory, which is a magnetic cover that also functions as a keyboard. The 32GB model with a Touch Cover will be priced at $599, while a 64GB model will come with the Touch Cover for $699.

Other features include front and back cameras, Bluetooth 4.0, a microSDXC card slot, USB 2.0 ports and 2GB of RAM. The tablet will come with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT Preview, which will include Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote. The Office software will later be updated to the final version.

Microsoft's tablet so far is the cheapest RT tablet in the market. Asus, Lenovo, Samsung and Dell will also be offering RT tablets after the OS is launched. Retailer Staples has Asus's Vivo Tab RT entry price listed at $599.99. Lenovo is offering a hybrid tablet-laptop device called IdeaPad Yoga 11 starting at $799. Pricing for Samsung's Ativ Tab has not been revealed yet, but U.K. online retailer Clove wrote in a blog that the tablet will become available in late October in the U.K. for a base price of $735, which totals about $880 including value-added tax.

Surface is company's first Windows computing device, and expectations are high. Microsoft has made its own hardware in the past, succeeding with the Xbox game console but failing with the Zune multimedia players and Kin smartphones, which have both been discontinued. Microsoft has tried to differentiate from rival RT tablets with some interesting design tweaks like a kickstand and the Touch Cover accessory. Windows RT and 8 are Microsoft's first tablet OSes, and the company hopes to bring its package of home-grown software, services and hardware to rival Apple, which has a commanding lead in the fast growing tablet market.

Analysts have said Microsoft's entrance into the tablet market would create a rift with PC makers, which are key to selling more copies of Windows. But analysts also said Microsoft is looking to gain control of its hardware, software and services, and perhaps also wants to create a reference design of Windows devices for PC makers. But with the starting price at $499, Microsoft's Surface tablet competes directly with tablets from other Windows device makers.

Surface will be available for purchase starting Oct. 26 at Microsoft Store locations in the U.S. and Canada. Taking a cue from Apple, the Surface tablet will be on display through Microsoft's retail locations and "pop up" stores, which are temporary stores or retail kiosks that will be set up at various locations and malls in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. The Surface will be available online in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, U.K. and the U.S.

The Surface was introduced in June. The company also announced a version of Surface called the Surface Pro with an Intel Core processor and Windows 8 Pro, but specific pricing and availability information for that product has not been announced. The Surface with Windows 8 Pro also has a 10.6-inch screen, is heavier at 903 grams and has an Intel Core i5 processor based on Ivy Bridge microarchitecture. It has a host of features such as USB 3.0 ports and up to 128GB of storage, and is largely targeted at the enterprise or power users who need PC functionality.

The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.

My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of IDG Communications is prohibited. Copyright 2013 IDG Communications.
ABN 14 001 592 650. All rights reserved.

Contact Us

With over 25 years of brand awareness and credibility, Good Gear Guide (formerly PC World Australia), consistently delivers editorial excellence through award-winning content and trusted product reviews.